New VicHealth chief appointed

Professor Anna Peeters is the new chief executive of VicHealth. (supplied) 459209_01

Globally-renowned health expert Professor Anna Peeters is set to become the new chief executive of VicHealth.

Professor Peeters’ appointment was announced last week following an extensive recruitment process.

The director of the Institute for Health Transformation at Deakin University, and a Professor in Epidemiology and Equity in Public Health, Professor Peeters has decades of experience in public health and health promotion.

She established the first International Centre of Excellence in healthier food retail environments, RE-FRESH, and received a Churchill Award in 2014 for her work in equity and population prevention.

Professor Peeters also holds a prestigious Skou Professorship at Aarhus University in Denmark in recognition of her population health expertise and has served on the VicHealth board for more than five years.

VicHealth chair Nicola Roxon said Professor Peeters was the perfect fit for the job.

“ Her career has been committed to improving population health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on equity and evidence-based practices,” Ms Roxon said.

Professor Peeters said she was excited to begin the role.

“I look forward to applying my extensive track record in delivering transformative outcomes through collaborative leadership to achieve the goals set out in VicHealth’s exciting 10-year strategy,” she said.

Professor Peeters will begin her new role in the coming months.